It's been awhile since I shared any coins from Panama and this one I have been meaning to write up for some time. Finding time to put together a quality post involving historical figures is always a bit of a challenge. It would be easy to over write and make an incredibly long encyclopedia that no one really wants to read or not do the individual justice for their historical contributions to the world as we know it today.
So today I tried to balance the two out. My inspiration for post is this really nice coin from Panama produced in 1973 featuring Simón Bolívar. This particular coin took years to find and buy! If you grew up in Central of South America you would need no introduction since he is a prominent historical figure. For those who haven't studied Latin American history you might find this interesting. But first a look at this very large and heavy coin:
About the coin:
From numista.com
I love this coin for several reasons. One, it's huge at 61 mm in diameter! Two it weighs in at 129 grams or 4.15 Troy ounces of sterling silver. Three it's such a nice proof finish and was produced at The Franklin Mint in Wawa, Pennsylvania, US. They used to make such nice stuff back in the seventies and eighties. Not a bad looking coin for 51 years old is it? It's a great coin for collector and stackers alike. This one was made for only five years, but collecting all five years can get expensive since there is a lot of silver in each one and they do carry a pretty high premium.
**Simón Bolívar **
dispropaganda.com
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios Ponte y Blanco (yes that was his full birth name) was born July 24, 1783 in what is now Caracas, Venezuela. He is considered a lot like George Washington in the US as he led the war for liberation from Spain of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Panama. I believe he ultimately would have liked to have seen the continent of South America become on single nation much like the United States of America but it never came to fruition.
Born into a upper class family he lost both of his parents when he was young and was sent to boarding school in Spain where he was educated. He studied enlightened writing as he got older and came to the conclusion that Spanish rule of South America needed to end. He returned to Venezuela to convince the upper class of the need to break away from the Spanish. When Spain was significantly weakened by the Napoleon's war against them leading for an opening for the South American territories to make their push for independence.
Bolívar started his military career as a militia officer combatting troops loyal to Spain in 1810. After faring poorly he was exiled to Jamaica where he made some powerful military contacts from Haiti allowing him to return in 1817 and soundly defeat the Spanish in Venezuela. He then launched one of the most daring attacks in world history by crossing the Andes mountains to liberate New Granada (today Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.) It's often compared to Hannibal's and Napoleon's crossing of the Alps during their military campaigns (although Hannibal didn't to so well.) Moving an entire army over mountains was a huge undertaking and risky at best in that day and age.
Having liberated northern South America he became the first president of Colombia and Venezuela, and the fourth of Peru. He then run up against political opposition and left power becoming frustrated by the very countries he had freed. He fell into poor health due to Tuberculosis and died at age 47 in 1830. But he had liberated Panama and much of South America and lit the spark for the rest of the continent to also become liberated from Spain and Portugal.
That will wrap up my post for the day. The coin is really nice and it took quite a few years to find one at a good price, and that it had Bolívar on it was a nice bonus. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below, and thank you to everyone for all of your support. It is greatly appreciated!
Keep on stacking!
Disclaimer:
I'm not a financial advisor and this isn't financial advice, please always do your own research before spending your hard earned money.
All photos are mine unless otherwise stated.
References:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces23893.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sim%C3%B3n_Bol%C3%ADvar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bol%C3%ADvar%27s_campaign_to_liberate_New_Granada
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